Feb. 14, 2009

Virginia Wrestling Knocks Off NC State, 23-13
CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. – The Virginia wrestling team took an early lead and never looked back in defeating NC State, 23-13, Saturday night at Memorial Gymnasium. UVa won six of the 10 weight classes to earn the team victory.

Virginia (10-10, 1-2 ACC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a major decision by Calvin Cardillo (Jr., Alexandria, Va.) at heavyweight and never trailed, although the Wolfpack (4-13-1, 0-4) climbed to within one point on two occasions – after the 125 and 157 bouts. UVa then won three of the final four matches to clinch the 23-13 triumph.

The featured match of the night, the battle at 141 pounds between No. 18 Nick Nelson (So., Pittsburgh, Pa.) of Virginia and No. 19 Joe Caramanica of NC State went to Nelson in a 3-2 thriller. After battling to a 1-1 tie through three periods and overtime, Caramanica held the advantage for all 30 seconds of the first tiebreaker. In the second tiebreaker, Caramanica earned a point on an escape to take the 2-1 lead, but Nelson responded with a late takedown to bring the crowd to its feet and earn a 3-2 decision.

Terps Wrestling Wins Big at American, 26-11
WASHINGTON - The University of Maryland wrestling team won seven of 10 matches Saturday evening at regional rival American University and the Terrapins handed the Eagles their first home loss of the season, 26-11.

With the victory, the Terps improved to 8-8-1 in dual meets heading into the final weekend of the regular season next week. The Eagles, who are receiving votes in the current USA Today/Intermat poll, dropped to 11-5 on the season and 4-1 at home.

Maryland's three lower weights continued their season-long trend of getting the Terps off to a quick start.

Junior Brendan Byrne picked up a Maryland victory by the narrowest of margins, edging Thomas Williams in the 125-pound match, 6-5.

Ranked grapplers Steven Bell and Alex Krom then added to Maryland's score at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively.

No. 11 Bell dominated Jasen Borshoff to the tune of a 13-5 major decision at 133 pounds. Krom, also ranked 11th in the nation, had a tougher match, but ultimately defeated Matt Mariacher, 8-5, to put the Terps up 10-0.

Tar Heels Test No. 4 Huskers But Fall Short, 24-15
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Seniors Justin Dobies and Vincent Ramirez were victorious in their final collegiate matches in Chapel Hill, and North Carolina battled No. 4 Nebraska to the bitter end Saturday, but the Cornhuskers emerged with a 24-15 victory at the Smith Center. The Tar Heels (12-8) also picked up a pin from No. 15 Nick Stabile and a decision from Ben Fiacco in their home finale.

Nebraska (17-2-1) used a pair of major decisions, a technical fall and a UNC forfeit at 133 to earn its second win of the night after blanking UNC Greensboro earlier.

Dobies, a heavyweight from Garfield Heights, Ohio, closed the match with his first win over a ranked opponent this season - a 3-2 decision against No. 19 Tucker Lane. Dobies picked up a first-period takedown and escaped early in the third to claim victory. He improved to 26-6 on the season with the win, which was the 106th of his career. Dobies needs just one more victory to move into a tie for ninth on the Tar Heels' career list.